Job Discussion Forums

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

I have a typical 8th grade (chu-gakko no ninnensei) class.... At the very back of the class I have one student that sleeps through the entire class - solid.

When I tried to wake him up and discipline the student, the JTE quite discouraged me from doing so. He basically said, "Please, just let him be. He's the worst student of all."

Well, that just really rubs me the wrong way, given my background and upbringing. Where I come from, and in the other classes I teach, this is COMPLETELY unacceptable... But at the same time, this student really isn't disturbing the other students it seems, nor are most of the other students being influenced by his dozing... They just ignore him. And so does the JTE... In fact, the JTE was calling out individual students to do one-on-one testing while I was teaching the rest of the class -- and he, of course, wasn't even woken up to do his test... When we handed out some sheets, they didn't even bother giving him a copy.... It's almost like he's a non-entity...

My question is, to what degree should I ignore such behavior when it is isolated? (As an aside, this particular JTE has discipline problems in his classes on a regular basis -- and his disciplining skills are virtually non-existant).... When should I step in and insist that certain behaviours cease?

What do you think?

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

I wouldn't take it too personally Jim... From the sounds of things, the problem is much deeper than simply a lack of respect for the teacher.

Weather or not "letting a sleeping dog lie" is right or wrong, I think for a young, relatively inexperienced teacher who hasn't been there too long, doesn't teach the class on a regular basis and doesn't know the kids too well to...

JimDunlop2 · Joined: 31 Jan 2003 Posts: 2286 Location: Japan

azarashi sushi · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 562 Location: Shinjuku

Mike L. · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 519

I totaly understand how you feel but maybe it's best just to leave it!

His level might be so low that he wouldn't be able to participate anyways and would just cause problems!

The JTE is a softie by the sounds of it and where there's one there's usually a lot more so a hardline apporach won't be productive.

Sounds like you're doinga good job so just go with the flow!!

Let's face it, Japanese schools are pretty pathetic these days!

So don't stress anything. Teach your classes enjoy your free time and bide you time!

After this week I won't be seeing my students until September. If your in the same boat why care?

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

As you might remember Jim I had a similar problem lately, but I did have a kind of stand-off with the kid involved. THen I found out after class he has hit a teacher...My advice is that if the JTE says to leave the kid alone then do. Yes, it would p*ss me off too, but maybe they know something about that kid that you don't. I definitely would have appreciated being told before that class to give that kid a wide berth.

Good luck.

L

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

He's dead, Jim.

Well, that may be what it seems like to you, but if you see him only 3 times a month, while the JTE sees him 3 times a week, you really don't have much to say about the matter. Unless you want to get more information on this kid's situation by talking to his homeroom teacher, I'd say suck it up, and let it go. Sad, but some kids get more than pushed through school. At the risk of using another Star Trek metaphore, some kids get beamed through.

Besides, if he really is the worst student, do you want to take it upon yourself to devote the necessary time to help him? Or are you just ticked off that he is allowed to sleep? Learn more about it, but let it go.

shmooj · Joined: 11 Sep 2003 Posts: 1758 Location: Seoul, ROK

It's life Jim, but not as we know it.

Perhaps he's a sports star and so needs to sleep to gain energy for that.

I simply wouldn't bother. Think of the other x students who will suffer if you work hard on this one.

Chris12 · Joined: 25 May 2004 Posts: 98

A teenager sleeping so deeply in the middle of the day must have something wrong either phsically or mentally. Most Japanese teacher believe an ALT or NLT doesn't need to know personal information about the students, specially faults.

Also as a teacher you need to think of all the other students. Spend too much time on the sleeper and the rest of the class looses out. Besides unless you know what is wrong with the sleeper you could be making things worst for the student.

lajzar · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 647 Location: Saitama-ken, Japan

If you don't have your JTE on side in a discipline issue, anything you do will be ineffective.

You may think having ten years more teaching experience and being ten years older than your JTE gives you seniority, but you'd be wrong. You don't have Japanese QTS, so he automatically outranks you.

I'd leave this one well alone.

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Since you only waltz in there 3 times a month, It's not your place to make an issue of it.

As others have said as well, there's more going on that isn't your concern and making it your concern would just stir up a hornets nest most likely.

Japan isn't the only country that passes along students who can't work withing the system. US has plenty of school districts with "pass along" policies and blatant ignoring of those kids whilst in the classroom. Heck, some schools simply give some kids a "certificate" saying they came to school when they graduate from HS.

Take the whole thing with a grain of salt. I know thats a tough pill to swallow but you'll go nuts or worse otherwise.

Celeste · Posted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 10:46 pm Post subject:

Jim-
If you are really concerned about hte fact that this student is being denied the opportunity to learn/ take tests in your class, absolutely find out from the homeroom teacher or VP what the deal is. (I have had teachers in elementary schools not mention when kids were deaf, autistic, ADHD, etc. because they didn't want me to have a bad impression of the student. They had no idea that I might find this bit of info useful in teaching the kids.) If you are willing to work one on one with the kid at lunch break or some other time of day, mention this to the homeroom teacher and see if they take you up on it. It is possible that this student is on some kind of medication that causes drowsiness. (I had one student last year who had violent episodes where she tried to attack other students and teachers with a metre stick, threw chairs, kicked and bit, and had to be physically restrained. One week I came to school and she was all but passing out at the back of the room. She was heavily medicated to prevent these violent outbursts. She was six years old. Rather than pull her out of school, the powers that be had her tranquilized to the point that I'm sure she couldn't understand much that was going on in the classroom, but she was there everyday anyways.